I adore Kat and Daniel! They make a great team! I love Kay’s detective skills. They grow stronger throughout the series! I also like that we are slowly unraveling who Daniel is! The mystery itself was very intriguing! It was full of many twists! I did not figure it out until the very end, and I liked how everything was wrapped up in a neat package! Therefore, I recommend this novel for fans of Deanna Raybourne, Tessa Arlen, and Karen Odden!

I enjoy this series. It is great to visit with Kat & Daniel. Getting more of her backstory was also good. I like the historical England setting. I hope there are many more.

The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley appears in the September 2022 issue of Gumshoe Review and is exclusive to them until October 1st. You may read the review at this link:
<http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6982>

4 out of 5 stars. If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This is the second book in this series that I have read. I really should go back and read more of them!

I enjoy a good mystery with a strong female character to figure it all out.

One of my favorite historical mystery series and I enjoyed this one very much!

If you have read the first book you would know all about the whole Joe Bristow thing, so I suggest going and reading that. 🙂 So Kat thought she was done with all that she has moved on and then Charlotte shows up wanting her help finding out what really happened to Joe and at first Kat is not on board with that but the more she thinks about things she really needs to know for her own peace of mind. So of course she noses around with the help of her friends from the working class and the higher class to find out what is going on.

At first I was a bit aggraveted at the author because of some things that happened between Kat and Daniel and I was like oh you best fix that…lol. I do like how that got resolved but I really missed him for a good bit of the story. I love all the charcters in this series and very invested in all the relationships that have slowly come about not only with Kat and Daniel but with Tess her cook assistant and Lady Cynthia who is very unconventional and fun.

In The Secret of Bow Lane, we finally find out more about Kat’s “husband” and that part of her early life, as well as the secret of Daniel’s past. I’ve been waiting for this, and for Kat and Daniel’s relationship to develope a bit more, and this book really delivered on the promises of previous books. Not that everything is resolved—far from it! Indeed, for a little while, I worried along with Kat that their relationship was irretrievably broken. But things are a bit clearer now, for both of them.

Kat is stunned when her bigamous husband’s first wife turns up to ask her to find out who murdered Joe. As far as Kat knew, he had died at sea some 13 years ago. But Charlotte insists that Joe was murdered, and he may have left a fortune behind. She offers Kat a share if Kat can find it, and Kat reluctantly agrees.

While the mystery surrounding Joe’s death and the missing “fortune” was certainly interesting and kept me guessing for quite a while, my interest was focused more on the unveiling of Kat’s and Daniel’s pasts. In Kat’s case, of course, the two are obviously intertwined. Daniel’s past doesn’t really have any bearing on the current investigation, but as always, his contacts and his unofficial involvement in law enforcement are useful. We also find out a bit more about Daniel’s shadowy boss, Monaghan, and my word, he’s a nasty piece of goods!

There are a lot of wonderful moments along the way, particularly with some of the secondary characters like Kat’s daughter Grace, her friend Lady Cynthia, Mr. Davis the butler, and Daniel’s former “brother” Mr. Fielding, a vicar with a decidedly shady past. I loved seeing Grace’s growing confidence and maturity, for all that she is still a young girl. The way she now comforts her mother when they have to part, instead of the other way around, speaks volumes about their loving relationship, and reminded me a little of my relationship with my own mother at that age. Lady Cynthia is always a delight, though I can’t help but wonder how long she will remain oblivious to Mr. Thanos’s feelings.

I find it impossible to read this series without getting hungry, specifically for all the delicious goodies Kat and her assistant concoct. The food porn in all the books is really mouthwatering! Thankfully, I had a few homemade cherry scones in the freezer, so I defrosted two and had them with tea while I thought about this review. (They were delicious!)

I will gladly recommend the Kat Holloway series to anyone who loves historical mysteries, but as much as I loved this installment, this book is probably not the best place to start. Ms. Ashley does her best to fill you in on the necessary information, but a lot of the enjoyment depends on your knowledge of and emotional investment in the recurring characters—not only Kat and Daniel, but Lady Cynthia, Thanos, Grace, and even Daniel’s son James, though he doesn’t appear in this book much. Do yourself a favor, and start with book one, Death Below Stairs, or the prequel novella, A Soupçon of Poison.

Stevie‘s review of The Secret of Bow Lane (A Below Stairs Mystery, Book 6) by Jennifer Ashley
Historical Mystery published by Berkley 02 Aug 22

Kat Holloway has always been more open with her readers than with those around her as to the events of her past, particularly her ‘marriage’ to a man who turned out to already have a wife and the beloved daughter from that relationship. Now she has to face up to more of the events around that past relationship and revisit her old haunts when her late husband’s actual widow recruits her to track down his killers, in the hope of also finding the fortune that he was allegedly concealing when he died. This scenario gives us not only an intriguing mystery, but also the opportunity to see more of the less-explored parts of late Victorian London, as Kat’s investigations take her back to her old home on Bow Lane and into the shops owned and managed by her former neighbours.


Of course, we also get to follow the daily life of the house in which Kat is employed and watch the progress of the slow-burning romances between Kat and Daniel and between Lady Cynthia and Mr Thanos – not that the women in either pairing would necessarily own up to being part of a romantic couple. We also get to see more of Kat’s daughter, and Daniel’s son, as well as Daniel’s adopted brother, the vicar who may not be such a reformed character as he wants Kat to think. While the mystery itself is suitably twisty, it’s all the little details of the characters’ lives and relationships that I really love, as well as the ways in which they interact with each other.

This time, Kat uses Grace as an excuse to visit people who may hold clues to how Grace’s father really died – not in a shipwreck as Kat had previously been told, but from injuries sustained in the East End of London – taking Grace back to Bow Lane to see her mother’s childhood and marital homes and speak to those who knew Kat as both a child and as a married woman. Unfortunately, Kat’s investigations bring her to the attention of Daniel’s employer, as she uncovers links between her husband’s death and a much larger crime committed against a government institution.

This puts Kat – and her relationship with Daniel – into more jeopardy than she would like, just as Daniel is pressing her to take the romantic aspects of their partnership to a more committed level. Kat’s refusal to consider linking herself more formally to a man who is constantly being sent away – and into danger – by his employer could spell the end for them, but fortunately, this book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, and Daniel offers up a potential solution that will assuage Kat’s fears. We shall have to wait and see how that one pans out…

All in all, I enjoyed this book, although the mystery plot was less satisfying for me than some of the others in the series. I’m keen to see how all the central relationships develop in upcoming books, though, and looking forward to whatever adventure is in store for our heroes next.

Grade: B

The Secret of Bow Lane is the 6th Kat Holloway Below Stairs mystery by Jennifer Ashley. Released 2nd Aug 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. (Large print library binding due out in 4th quarter 2022). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is another intricately plotted and well written historical mystery featuring clever and intrepid Mayfair cook Kat Holloway. The author is adept at showing the differences in social status and class through the well wrought and believable characters whose motivations and actions drive the story arc. Kat herself is well spoken, intelligent, honorable, and driven. She's more or less alone in the world without family support and forced to provide for herself and her daughter Grace to the best of her ability.

Although it's the 6th book in the series, it works well as a standalone, and readers coming in with this one won't feel lost. There are some spoilers for earlier books in the series, but not many, and not major ones. The book is written in first person PoV, and that took a little bit of getting used to, but wasn't intrusive after the first chapter.

The fictional action is woven around a framework of actual history and it's done so quite seamlessly, it's not always easy to discern where fiction shades over into reality. It was very easy to set myself into the story and I never found my interest flagging or felt that the narrative dragged. The denouement and resolution were exciting and satisfying and there was a real sense of engagement on the part of Mrs. Holloway as she was trying to escape her past and get closure from the time she had spent married to a bigamous husband.

For readers who enjoy lots of romance content with their historical mysteries, there's quite a strong romantic element here. For readers who prefer little or none, it's something of which to be aware. The language is mostly clean, PG(ish), and there's no graphic sexual content (some consensual kissing).

Four and a half stars. Engaging, well written, and fun to read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Kat Holloways’s life was turned upside down when a solicitor appeared to notify her that her husband was dead, drowned at sea. And worst yet, he informs her that she was not Joe Bristow‘s only wife. And now, twelve years later, that other wife unexpectedly appears. Charlotte Bristow wants Kat’s help. She claims that Joe had stashed away a fortune, and was then murdered for it. If Kat can find the money, Charlotte will give her a share of it.

Wanting nothing to do with Charlotte, or money from a man who treated her so cruelly, Kat initially refuses. But her enigmatic friend Daniel McAdam thinks there may be something to the story, and with his help Kat begins to investigate. It soon becomes apparent that there is more to Joe, and his death, than Kat could have ever believed.

The Secret of Bow Lane is the sixth in the Below Stairs Mysteries series featuring Kat Holloway. And I have enjoyed them all, including this most recent installment. With deft writing and vivid descriptions, Jennifer Ashley brings Victorian London to life.

While at times the story became more complicated than it needed to be, Ashley makes up for that by staying true to, what I feel is central to the success of the series, strongly drawn characters with all too human imperfections. Kat is an impressive female protagonist. She is intelligent, steadfast, and really quite formidable. Daniel continues to be compelling. Ashley finally lets us learn more about his past, allowing us to understand the man and his motivations. And there is a strong ensemble of recurring characters who are always on standby to lend a hand, and inject some humor into the story.

The plot, the setting, and the characters combine to make this a well-crafted and quite entertaining historical mystery with just the right amount of romance thrown in.

My thanks to Berkely Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advance reader copy made available for my review.

Kat’s relationship with Daniel McAdam has hit rock bottom. In part, approached by a woman named Charlotte Bristow, the widow of Joe Bristow, plays into the strain of their relationship. This enjoyable story pairs our amateur sleuth Kat with Daniel McAdam, all while their slow-burning romances is woven into the pages of the series.

Why does Charlotte‘s appearance have an effect on Kat? Well, Charlotte is not the only widow of Joe. In fact, Kat is also Joe’s widow. How can that be? Was he married to both of them at the same time? And of course Kat needs to know what Charlotte expects of her now.

Missing Daniel deeply after the two had a falling out, Kat finds herself distracted by what Charlotte wants. Joe is said to have a fortune that he acquired and it would be helpful to both Charlotte and Kat. This could actually benefit her, considering this fortune Joe apparently had at the time of his death. So she starts investigating Joe’s death of a dozen years ago, and finds that she must enlist Daniel’s help yet again.

In this sixth book of the series, we have come to see that Kat is a very talented cook who has taken on some wonderful jobs in some beautiful environments. This book has less focus is on her cooking, and more on her past relationship with Joe, as well as how this in any way impacts her present and possible future relationship with Daniel. Meanwhile, Kat continues to spend as much time as she can with her young daughter Grace, who is happily living with another family and Kat loves that stability that Grace has. The two share a fond, loving relationship.

It proves impossible for Kat and Daniel to be away from one another, especially when Daniel‘s expertise as an undercover agent with Scotland Yard comes into play, but he is also a man of many faces. He might be able to get answers that Kat cannot.

What a delightful story and series as a whole. Jennifer Ashley has created this wonderful series set in the Victorian era, with people who work together, sometimes eschewing class distinction, to the better good of solving crimes, and in some cases murder.

This book can be read as a standalone novel, Readers will not have any problem following this engaging story. However, for the sake of continuity, especially as Kat and Daniel’s relationship blooms, reading the series from the beginning would definitely be a wonderful experience for any lover of cozy mystery with a touch of romance and danger.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review, including mini reviews of the first five books in the series -

https://youtu.be/zQ7YKlmd2PM

This is Book 6 (and my first) in the author's Below Stairs Mystery series, set in Victorian, England, and I was gripped from the start.

Having come late to the game, I was able to jump right in and not feel I missed significant details. That said, I enjoyed it so much that I want to start with Book 1 and learn all I can about MC Kat Holloway and her friend (leaning to more) Daniel McAdam.

In Bow Lane, they try to uncover the truth about the death 12 years ago of Kat's husband, who appears to have been legally married to another. Atmospheric, romantic and compelling, Bow Lane is highly recommended for fans of arresting historical mystery-thriller fiction.

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

In The Secret of Bow Lane we learn Kat's husband might not have died the way previously thought and for different reasons. A woman approached Kat to seek help clearing up the mystery of his death and possibly find a rumored fortune. With great reservations Kat decides to investigate.
The mysterious (is he a spy or simply an exceptionally intuitive man with a dark past?) Daniel McAdams will give his usual assistance with the case. Daniel and Kat have a complicated relationship and their pride continually prevents them from taking things forward. For the time being they will need to let their personal feelings take a back seat to solving an inconvenient case. I'm not usually a fan of an extremely slow burn romance but this is not the case with Kat and Daniel. Author Jennifer Ashley revealed more layers of Daniel's story thus making me look forward to the next book and case. Recommended to fans of the series!

Gifted cook and not-so-amateur sleuth Kat Holloway is back with a cold case that hits close to home in The Secret of Bow Lane. When Charlotte Bristow – the legal widow of the man Kat had once believed herself married to – shows up on her doorstep with a tale of murder and a lost fortune, Kat is taken aback…but also intrigued. With the help of her friends (and the man who is slowly becoming much more than a friend) Kat looks to the past for answers, and learns more than she bargained for. It’s a cold case, but because of how closely it’s tied to Kat’s past it’s a very interesting one. I enjoyed learning more about Kat’s history and to see her interact with those who knew her before she had become the woman she is today. Along the way, author Jennifer Ashley also doles out more information about Daniel McAdam, which I was equally excited by. Kat and Daniel have a very slow burn romance but as they open up to each other more and we learn more about their pasts, the two become closer and the love story moves forward.

The Secret of Bow Lane is the sixth novel in the Below Stairs series and to fully enjoy it you should at least be familiar with the cast of characters before diving into this book. Kat and Daniel’s relationship is one of many connections in this story that makes the world come alive. I adore the entire supporting cast, from Cynthia to Mr. Thanos to Tess and beyond. All the characters are well-drawn and come with unique personalities and voices that help make the book come alive. With its enjoyable characters, Ashley’s engaging writing style, and an interesting mystery that both stands on its own and moves overarching plots forward, there’s no way The Secret of Bow Lane could fail to entertain. I finished Kat’s latest adventure a well-satisfied reader and I’m looking forward to seeing where Jennifer Ashley takes our favorite cook next.

Such a great book! I had never heard of this series before so this is the first one I'd ever read.

I love a mystery, and this one was good. I enjoyed the main character Kat and Daniel too. Now I want to go back and read them all!

1882 Kat finally meets Charlotte Bristow the real and first wife of her supposed husband Joseph. She needs Kat's help as she believes Joe was actually murdered for his wealth, and promises to share when it is found. As Kat investigates she has the help of her friends, but what will be revealed about Joseph. And what of Kat's friend Daniel.
A well-written, enjoyable, and well-plotted historical mystery, with its cast of likeable and varied characters. Another good addition to this entertaining series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

We have slowly learned things about Kat’s past, like her “husband” was actually already married to someone else when he married her, but in The Secret of Bow Lane Kat is able to finally able to not only face her past but put it behind her and hopefully move forward with Daniel. Who is this woman who was married to her husband and how did her own “marriage” differ, or were they both treated horribly by the same man. All questions that are answered by solving the mystery of whether Joe had hidden some money away prior to his death.

Daniel and Kat’s own relationship also seems to be at determination point. Will Kat never learn to trust in another man or will her feelings for Daniel override her uncertainties. Some of Daniel’s secrets are also revealed and Kat can finally make a choice on whether she will trust Daniel not to be the same kind of man as Joe.

The mystery was a foil for all of the reveals made propelling the characters forward. I do think they rather needed a little shove and that’s what The Secret of Bow Lane was, a nudge towards a different future. What will those future books look like? I know what I want from these characters but who knows if Ms. Ashley will give that future to me. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Ms. Ashley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

It's not stretch to say I'm a big fan if Jennifer Ashley's Below Stairs Mystery series. I love Kat Holloway: feisty, competent, and clever; talented cook, devoted (and secret) single mother, and amateur sleuth. The one agonist in this series is Kat's extremely SLOW burn romance with mysterious jack-of-all-trades Daniel McAdam. Well, folks, here it is: the series installment in which Kat and Daniel's characters (and relationship) are explored and expanded. FINALLY! The mystery is interesting, especially as it sheds inadvertent light on Kat's personal history, but I have to be honest: the mystery takes an unapologetic backseat to the drama playing out between Kat and Daniel. This is the book I was waiting for and I enjoyed every minute.

I mean, yes, I did enjoy learning more about the mysterious Daniel and his shady employer? boss? supervisor? Monaghan. I liked the in-house rivalry between Monaghan and whatever office he represents, and Inspector MacGregor. I liked seeing Grace explore Kat's history together with her mom. I also enjoyed the period cooking details, which really aren't given enough praise. Ms. Ashley clearly has spent quite a bit of time researching time-period appropriate cooking techniques and foods, which I'm sure are barely noticed in favor of the drama whirling around Kat and Daniel. (I get it.)

This is *definitely* not a series starter, though, nor is it the most intriguing mystery of the six Kat Holloway books. However, if you're a reader who has been enjoying this series, you cannot miss this one - I was absolutely glued. I can't WAIT to find out what the 'just one more' will be. ;)

I absolutely love the Kat Holloway Mysteries and couldn’t wait to begin The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley. This is the sixth novel and one of my favorites. Ashley delivered from an exciting mystery to a look into Kat’s life before she became a cook. Suspense, romantic developments and a mystery await you….

While each of the books in the series offers a mystery and could stand on their own, I highly recommend you start from the beginning. The character relationships and overall series arc deserve your full attention.

When Charlotte Bristow, the legal wife of Joe Bristow, shows up on Kat’s doorstep with a curious tale about money and murder, Kat cannot help but wonder. As much as the past pains her, she investigates. The case takes her back to her marriage, and time spent on Bow Lane.

Holloway shared an intriguing case that cleverly allowed her to shed light on Kat’s past and what led her to her current employment as a cook. We also learned about Daniel’s past and saw movement in the developing romance. Eep!

The story was tightly told and the unfolding of details and feelings were perfectly woven into the current story. I think perhaps this was my favorite of the series to date. I, of course, continue to love all the attention to detail, from clothing to menus prepared in the kitchen. The author makes you feel as if you are sitting in the kitchen below stairs in 1882 London.

This book is for you if …..

You love a good murder-mystery
Strong characters
A slow-burning romance
A man of mystery
An inquisitive and observant sleuth who also happens to be a cook in 1880s London
As always, I was left looking forward to more adventures with Kat, Daniel, and the gang. I highly recommend the series and would love to hear your thoughts.

A great read!

I would like to thank Jennifer Ashley, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Yazmine Hassan for inviting me on the blog tour.

When her late husband’s wife asks for Kat’s help, Kat’s reluctant. But she’s also curious. What if Joe really hid a fortune somewhere? What she could do with a little extra coin . . . One inquiry leads to another, her friends volunteer their help, and soon Kat finds herself neck-deep in the cold case of a high-profile robbery over a decade old—and drawing the attention of the wrong people. She isn’t sure she wants to know the truths she’s discovering, but they won’t remain hidden any longer.

I love this series more with each new installment. When I got the invitation for the tour, I was DELIGHTED. Slurped up the ARC in one day. Yum, yum, yum! Not only was this an intriguing mystery with a solid plot and steady pace, it offered heaps of character development, and so much back story for Kat and Daniel. Finally! We saw all our favorite people, and met a new one—I loved Mr. Grimes. Oh, and Mr. Miller. What a sweetie.

I really don’t have much to say about it. I noted a funny is all— “She waved cheerily at me, which would have been more reassuring if she hadn’t been holding my best knife.” And I thoroughly respect Ashley’s research into London culture in 1882, especially what they ate.

Overall, I had a great time reading Bow Lane and couldn’t find much wrong with it. I’m eagerly anticipating the next book, which will hopefully see Daniel freed and more of his past revealed.

I have adored this series from the very first and it truly does just keep getting better and better. The characters are so fleshed out, the mysteries are harder to solve and the hint of romance...is swoon worthy.

I love these rag tag characters and all their ups and downs and quirks. This is truly such a riveting series with a wonderful backdrop of time and circumstance. I can't get enough of it or recommend it enough to just about everyone.